Surname Planter - Meaning and Origin

Planter: What does the surname Planter mean?

The last name Planter typically indicates an occupational surname, deriving from the profession of a person who plants or sows seeds, specifically a tree planter or farmer. It is of English origin and first emerged during the medieval period, a time when most surnames were occupational, patronymic, topographic or nicknames. The name is a derivative of several Old English words - plantian (to plant), plant (a young tree or herb) or plantere (a grower of plants). This surname was usually given to people whose job was to set seeds, plants and trees into the ground on a large scale. So, essentially, the surname Planter signifies a connection to agriculture or horticulture profession. As with many occupational surnames, it does not necessarily mean that people with the surname Planter are farmers or gardeners by trade today.

Planter: Where does the name Planter come from?

The last name Planter is most commonly found among families of French descent, although it is not limited to them. The name can be found in various parts of Europe, as well as North and South America. The most frequent occurrences of this last name are in France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Spain. There are also a few Planter households in various other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

The Planter surname originated from the Latin term, plantator, which means "planter" or "cultivator". This is because those who bore the name were often responsible for the sowing and planting of crops in the rural areas of Europe and elsewhere. This is reflected in the heraldic symbols which are often associated with the Planter name, such as a wheat stalk below a star.

Although the Planter name is not necessarily linked to a particular ethnic group or culture, it is a relatively rare name globally compared to other European family names. Planters are particularly numerous in France and Belgium, where they are among the 100 top surnames, while in the United States, the Planter name is comparatively rare, with less than 5,000 people bearing it.

Variations of the surname Planter

The surname Planter is of Anglo-Saxon origin and can be traced back to the Old English words ‘plante’ and ‘ere’ which mean ‘a grower of plants’. The surname’s variants include Plantar, Plantir, Plantar, Plantir, Plantier, Planters and Planter. It is also common to find spellings with the ‘er’ replaced with an ‘or’, as in Planyor, Plontor, Plontur, Plantor or Planter.

The most widely recognized surnames which are of the same origin as the Planter surname include Plante, Plant, Planter, Plaunt, Plantard and Plantard. In some cases, the surname Planter has also been found in other countries, such as countries in Europe, where it may appear as either ‘Plantar’ or ‘Plantarich’.

Various spellings of the Planter surname have been found in historical records in Europe, with one version being the German or Austrian spelling of ‘Pflanter’.It is also important to note that the Planter surname does not have any connection to the French Plantier surname.

In more recent times, the Planter surname has spread across the world, with the surname appearing in many countries from the United States to Australia and New Zealand. It is also important to note that some people bearing the Planter surname may have been immigrants or refugees and have had their surname changed due to different languages and dialects.

Overall, the Planter surname has a very wide geographic distribution and a number of different variant spellings which may be due to diverse cultures which individuals of that surname have interacted with over time.

Famous people with the name Planter

• Judith Planter: American Youtuber who makes educational videos and Vlogs
• Katherine Planter: British singer-songwriter whose debut album topped the charts in the UK
• Victor Planter: Venezuelan businessman and philanthropist, best known for his charitable donations to education
• Ernest Planter: Nobel Prize-winning Dutch physicist who made advances in quantum theory
• Charles Planter: French philosopher and social critic, credited with founding modern philosophical anarchism
• Alexander Planter: Russian rock and roll musician, who is credited with introducing the genre to his home country
• Thomas Planter: American civil rights lawyer, remembered for his defence of African-Americans during the early 20th century
• William Planter: French historian and author, who wrote award-winning books on the French Revolution
• Alan Planter: British film director, whose work earned him an Academy Award for Best Director in 2008
• Catherine Planter: German fashion designer, credited for creating the modern trends of the day

Other surnames

PlantPlantaPlantadePlantadisPlantagenetPlantamourPlantardPlantePlantenerPlanterosePlantiePlantierPlantinetPlantnerPlantsPlanty